The list of honorees for the 33nd Blues Music Awards includes Blues Hall of Fame members Denise LaSalle, Charlie Musselwhite and Bobby Rush. Leading with four nominations each are Sugar Ray & the Bluetones with theirs Evening CD and Louisiana artists Tab Benoit with his Medicine release and Johnny Sansone and his The Lord is Waiting and the Devil is Too. Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks, the Tedeschi-Trucks Band and their Revelator combined for four nominations. Tommy Castro, his band and the various artists on The Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue–Live!CD also combined for four nominations.

Three nominations each went to Eugene Hideaway Bridges, Lazy Lester, David Maxwell, Ana Popovic and Johnny Rawls. Popovic is joined by two other Europeans, English guitarist Ian Siegal who paired with Mississippi artists and Big Pete, a Dutch singer and harmonica player, who each got a first-ever nomination. More than thirty other first time nominees were recognized including well-known blues-rock performers Joe Bonamassa, Warren Haynes and George Thorogood. The Blues Foundation’s International Blues Challenge is certainly proving a path to success as it is well-represented with past winners Eden Brent, Grady Champion, Diunna Greenleaf, Zac Harmon, JP Soars, Trampled Under Foot and Lionel Young all receiving nominations. (The full nominee list is below.)

The number of first-time nominees demonstrate the vitality of blues music and reflect the releases and live performances of the past year,” Jay Sieleman, The Blues Foundation’s Executive Director said. “The nominations prove not only the sustaining power of Blues music, but also its ability to constantly evolve and remain relevant to today’s fans.”

December 13 is an early Christmas for Blues fans as tickets for the May 10 Award show go on sale and voting begins too. Blues Foundation members are the only fans who vote to decide which nominees will actually take home the Blues Music Award. Members also receive seating preference at the Awards show.

Every year, the Blues Music Awards ceremony itself proves to be one of the best shows of the year. After all, almost every nominee not only attends, but also performs – creating a lineup comprised of the best of the best in blues all in one evening. A complete nominee list, as well as membership, voting, ticket and host hotel information can be found at The Blues Foundation’s website—www.blues.org. Hall of Fame honorees will be announced in mid-February.

For the sixth consecutive year, The Blues Music Awards will be broadcast live in their entirety on Sirius XM’s B.B. King’s Bluesville – the next best thing to being there. They will be subsequently broadcast on public television.

The Blues Music Awards are universally recognized as the highest honor given to Blues artists. Major funding is provided by ArtsMemphis and the Tennessee Arts Commission. The 33rd Blues Music Awards are also sponsored by BMI, Blue Mountain Artists, Catfood Records, Eagle Rock Entertainment, FedEx, First Tennessee Foundation, Gibson Foundation, Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company and Sony/Legacy.